Early maturing rice is widely utilized to diversify cropping systems in the Honam Plain, Korea. It is based on the principle of a short growth duration. There is concern regarding quality deterioration of early maturing rice owing to the high temperature during the ripening stage as compared to that for mid and mid-late maturing rice. This study was conducted to analyze six pasting property-related and eight quality traits of six early maturing rice varieties (Jopyeong, Odae, Unkwang, Haedamssal, Jinkwang, and Haedeul) on early, ordinary, and late cultivations, and to interpret the relationships between genotypes and environments. As the cultivation time increased, the ratio of head rice (HR) and glossiness of cooked rice (Toyo value, TY) increased. The cumulative mean temperature of the ripening stage showed a strong negative correlation with HR and TY at all cultivation times. Pasting temperature, peak viscosity (PV), trough viscosity, final viscosity, and breakdown (BD) decreased, whereas setback (SB) increased as the cultivation time was delayed. Pasting properties were affected more by climate conditions in the ripening stage than during the growth stage. Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction analysis revealed that pasting property-related and quality traits were affected more by environment than genotype. Jinkwang and Haedamssal in early and ordinary cultivation and Jinkwang and Haedeul in late cultivation exhibited higher HR and TY and a lower protein content. They also showed higher PV and BD and lower SB, which are characteristics of good eating quality japonica rice. Jinkwang, Haedamssal, and Haedeul are premium-quality, early maturing rice varieties that were recently developed. The cultivation of these varieties could improve the grain quality of early maturing rice at high temperatures during the ripening stage in the Honam Plain.

‘Inchangkyool’ varieties, which are believed to have been cultivated in Jeju for a long time, have leaves and flowers with a lemon-like fragrance. They have been suggested to be given the same scientific name as Citrus ichangensis, which is known to originate from China’s Southwest and Midwest regions. However, the genetic characterization of ‘Inchangkyool’ has not been reported, and literature is not readily available. Hence, in this study, 30 citrus chloroplast (cp)DNA (trnL-trnF) regions and nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were tested to identify the genetic relationship between ‘Inchangkyool’ and C. ichangensis and the origin of ‘Inchangkyool’ cultivars. Our results indicated that the total nucleotide sequence length of the trnL-trnF intergenic spacer (IGS) region and the G + C content was 373 bp and 36.73%, respectively, in the cpDNA of C. ichangensis and ‘Inchangkyool’, whereas the ITS1 regions were 247 and 248 bp and the ITS2 regions were 228 and 226 bp, respectively. Furthermore, the sequence lengths of the total ITS (ITS1 + 5.8S rDNA + ITS2) regions were 638 and 637 bp, respectively, whereas the G+C content was 70.16%, 71.26%, 69.03%, 70.61%, 64.6%, and 65.49%, respectively - showing differences in the nuclear ribosomal DNA region. However, the nucleotide sequence length of the 5.8S rDNA region was 163 bp and the G + C content was 54.6%, which were the same for both varieties. In addition, sequence divergence and phylogenetic analysis of the trnL-trnF and ITS regions in chloroplast DNA showed that the sequence divergence of the trnL-trnF region on the chloroplast was 0–0.008. This result indicates that ‘Inchangkyool’ is most closely related to Jeju eight native citrus cultivars including ‘Dongjeongkyool’. It is also closely related to C. ichangensis cultivars and six common citrus cultivars. In other words, the ‘Inchangkyool’ cultivar was inherited from the same maternal line as the Chinese C. ichangensis. The divergence values of the nuclear ribosomal DNA region between ‘Inchangkyool’ and ‘Dongjeongkyool’ and C. ichangensis were 0.008 and 0.026, respectively. These results indicated that ‘Inchangkyool’ was most closely related to ‘Dongjeongkyool’, and was farther from the C. ichangensis cultivar. In addition, phylogenetic relationships found ‘Inchangkyool’ to belong to the same group as the ‘Dongjeongkyool’ cultivar of jeju native citrus cultivars and a different group from C. ichangensis. From the above results, it is suggested that ‘Inchangkyool’ cultivar has been classified from the same maternal cultivar as the C. ichangensis in China, but has been obtained through long-term crossing with the same species as ‘Dongjeongkyool’. Moreover, based on the above results, it is believed that a distinct cultivar name for ‘Inchangkyool’ can be presented.

The damage caused by typhoons to rice production has been increasing. To reduce this damage, wind-tolerant rice breeding programs have been conducted at the Yeongdeok substation (YS) of the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS). This study was conducted to examine the effects of these wind-tolerant rice breeding programs. Under the wind-tolerance screening facility (WTSF), the wind-tolerance of 17 rice varieties bred at NICS (usual rice) and 20 rice varieties bred at YS (wind-tolerant rice) were analyzed by evaluating six traits: white spikelet (WS), white panicle (WP), degree of wind damage (DG), ratio of ripened grain (RRG) at control (RRG_C) and treatment (RRG_T), and reduction rate of RRG between control and treatment (RRG_R). Wind-tolerant rice showed more wind-tolerant characteristics than usual rice, such as lower WS, WP, DG, and RRG_R and higher RRG_T and RRG_C. In the principal component analysis, wind-tolerant rice showing a similar direction for RRG_T and RRG_C were located separately from the usual rice. The adaptability tests of wind-tolerant rice were conducted by evaluating eight yield-related traits in the wind-prone areas. Wind-tolerant rice was divided into three clusters by K-means clustering analysis using WP and RRG_T with the WTSF, RRG, and yield in the wind-prone areas. Among the three clusters, YC2 had the strongest wind tolerance performance, followed by YC3 showing moderate wind tolerance, and YC1 the weakest wind tolerance. ‘Sinbo’, a variety belonging to YC2, exhibited the strongest wind tolerance and high yield potential among all varieties. The wind-tolerant rice varieties bred at YS could be used practically to prevent wind damage and utilize breeding materials to enhance the wind tolerance of rice varieties.

The National Agrobiodiversity Center of the RDA, Korea, has more than 22,700 accessions of global wheat genetic resources, including Korean wheat cultivars and landraces. Despite the numerous efforts to develop high-quality, hard winter wheat, the employment of new genetic resources into Korean wheat breeding programs is still hampered by the different growing environments. To overcome this limitation, 200 germplasms that were screened using the Genebank Management System (GMS) were evaluated in three different regions in Korea. In the 2018–2019 trial, 55 lines that showed superior field performance and high protein content were selected from among the 200 germplasms. These lines were re-evaluated in the 2019–2020 trial, and 24 lines that had suitable traits for growth, grain yield, and grain protein content in three locations were finally selected. These winter wheat germplasms also showed high yield stability throughout the three different environments in Korea. Preliminary screening using GMS information, consecutive regional tests, and quality tests could be effective procedures for the development of hard winter wheat in Korea. Therefore, introduction breeding could be a favorable breeding method aiming to improve quality, where useful genetic resources are limited.

‘Haewon’ is a soybean cultivar for soy-sprouts. ‘Bosug’ and ‘Somyeong’ were crossed in 2003, and promising lines were selected from F3 to F6 using the pedigree method (Pedigree: HS1450-2B-3-1-1-2-2-1). Preliminary yield (PYT) and advanced yield trials (AYT) were conducted from 2010 to 2011, and regional yield trials (RYT) were conducted in five regions (Suwon, Naju, Miryang, Dalseong, and Jeju) from 2012 to 2014. In the RYTs, ‘Haewon’ had a smaller seed weight and higher yield than the standard cultivar ‘Pungsannamulkong’, which are desirable characteristics for the soy-sprout process. The morphological characteristics of ‘Haewon’ are as follows: determinate plant type, purple flowers, gray pubescence, yellow pods, small, yellow spherical seeds (8.1 g/100-seeds), and light brown hilum. The flowering and maturity dates were July 29th and October 6th, respectively. Plant height and first pod height were 55 cm and 12 cm, respectively. The lodging tolerance was also strong compared to that of ‘Pungsannamulkong’. The germination rate, total length, hypocotyl length, thickness, and sprout yield of soybean sprouts were 97%, 19.1 cm, 8.8 cm, 2.1 mm, and 513%, respectively. The yield in adaptable regions was 337 kg/10 a, 16% higher than that of ‘Pungsannamulkong’. ‘Haewon’ can be used for soy-sprout with favorable seed size and soy-sprout characteristics, such as germination and sprout-yield. (Registration No. 6637).

A yellow soybean cultivar called ‘Hipro’ was developed using the single seed descent (SSD) method by crossing ‘Saedanbaek’ (SS92414 ×MD87L) and ‘Daepung’ (Baekwon × Sinpaldal2). A preliminary yield trial (PYT), advanced yield trial (AYT), and regional yield trial (RYT) were conducted in three regions. ‘Hipro’ has a determinate growth habit, white flowers, and a spherical seed shape. In the regional yield trial, the flowering and maturity dates of ‘Hipro’ were August 4 and October 17, respectively, and the 100-seed weight was 22.2 g, which was lower than that of Daewon (26 g). Additionally, ‘Hipro’ showed resistance to lodging, soybean mosaic virus (SMV), bacterial blight, and pod shattering. The seed protein content of ‘Hipro’, which was of particular interest in this study, was 53.9%, which was higher than that of ‘Daepung’ (41.5%), and the total amino acid content without tryptophan was 43.6%, 19% higher than that of ‘Daepung’. The mean yield of ‘Hipro’ in RYT was 2.23 ton/ha, which was 91.3% of the yield of ‘Daewon’. However, ‘Hipro’ showed an 11% higher yield than Daewon in Paju. As a result of the tofu characteristic test, 'Hipro' is suitable for making soy milk and tofu due to its high solid content (12.67 Brix) and protein content (13.68%) and high yield (325%) of tofu. Overall, ‘Hipro’ had high protein content, excellent processing quality for tofu and soy milk, and strong resistance to disease and pod shattering that will greatly contribute to the consumption of soybeans in Korea. (Registration No. 7735).

A black soybean cultivar called ‘Noksim’ was developed using pedigree selection by crossing ‘Ilpumgeomjeong’ (SLSB87-3 × YS558) and ‘PI547426’. A p reliminary y ield t rial (PYT), advanced y ield t rial (AYT), and regional y ield t rial (RYT) were conducted in t hree regions. ‘Noksim’ has a determinate growth habit, purple flowers, and spherical seeds. In the regional yield trial, the flowering and maturity dates of ‘Noksim’ were August 4 and October 13, respectively, and its 100-seed weight was 26.5 g, which was lower than that of ‘Chungja 3’ (36.5 g). Additionally, ‘Noksim’ showed resistance to lodging, soybean mosaic virus (SMV), bacterial blight, and pod shattering. In terms of the seed quality, the chlorophyll content of ‘Noksim’ was 71.19%, which was higher than that of ‘Chungja 3’ (50.78%), and its total anthocy anin c ontent w as 2 5.17 m g/100g, w hich w as t hree t imes more than t hat of ‘Chungja 3’. The mean y ield o f ‘Noksim’ i n RYT was 2.35 ton/ha, which was 18% greater than that of ‘Chungja 3’. ‘Noksim’ is suitable for cooking with rice and soy products such as soymilk because of its high brix degree (35 Brix) after cooking with rice, as well as its soymilk yield (71.2%). Overall, ‘Noksim’ has dark green cotyledons with a black seed coat that is preferred by consumers, and its early maturity with pod shattering resistance results in an increased seed yield. (Registration No. 7734).

The rice variety ‘Youngjin’ is a japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.) with good eating quality, lodging tolerance, and resistance to the rice stripe virus (RSV) and bacterial blight disease (BB). It was developed by the rice breeding team of the Department of Southern Crop, NICS, RDA, in 2016. This variety was derived from a three-way cross between ‘Iksan486’, ‘YR22722-B-B-B-25-1’, and ‘Chengmu,’ with good eating quality, in the summer of 2007. The pedigree of ‘Youngjin’ was YR27874Acp46-1, and was designated as ‘Miyang283’ in 2012. After local adaptability tests at five different locations from 2014 to 2016, it was released under the name ‘Youngjin’ in 2016. ‘Youngjin’ is a mid-late maturing ecotype with a short culm length of 67 cm. This variety was found to be resistant to the K1, K2, and K3 races of BB, and RSV, and moderately resistant to leaf blast disease. The milled rice kernels of ‘Youngjin’ were translucent and clear, without white core and belly, and had good eating quality, according to a panel test. This variety showed a lower percentage of cracked kernels compared to other susceptible cultivars. The milled rice yield of ‘Youngjin’ was 568 kg/10a, under normal levels of fertilization, determined by the local adaptability tests. This cultivar is adaptable to the Yeongnam plain area (Registration No. 7653).